Board Approves Capital Outlay Request

The NMU Board of Trustees has approved a 2010-11 capital outlay project request, which public universities are required to submit to the state annually. The request is part of the university's rolling five-year master plan.

"This approval is in preparation for the annual state-required update of priority capital outlay projects," said Gavin Leach (Finance and Administration).

Should state capital outlay funds become available, the five projects identified by NMU, in priority order, are: a new bio-mass-fueled combined heat and power cogeneration plant, estimated to cost about $65 million; Jamrich Hall modernization, $34 million; renovations and an addition to the Learning Resource Center, $66 million; an academic facilities upgrade project, $9 million; and Cohodas Hall renovations, $18 million.

Northern’s operating budget for the current year, which also received board approval at today’s meeting, is $103.5 million. It is an increase of 1.1 percent or $1.1 million over the previous year and also includes $2.9 million in university budget reductions and cost-saving strategies. The state-required 2010-11 operating budget request will be presented to the board at its December meeting.

In other action, the board:

▪Accepted $22,055 in gifts and nearly $2.6 million in external grants.

▪Voted that Doug Roberts and Brian Cloyd continue to serve as board chair and vice chair, respectively, for calendar year 2010.

▪Appointed Richard Vanderkaar as a board member for the Burton Glen Charter School for a term expiring June 30, 2011.

▪Agreed that the Black Box Theatre in the McClintock Building be named the James A. Panowski Black Box Theatre, effective Oct. 1

▪Accepted the 2009-10 presidential goals focusing on enrollment and retention, Road Map to 2015 initiatives and revenue enhancement.

▪Approved the audit of the university’s financial report, conducted by Rehmann Robson, CPA.

▪Participated in a focus discussion titled “Strategic Thinking," led by Cloyd.